Modified Jalopy Races at Hutchinson, Kansas on September 20, 1962

Modified Jalopy Races

On the Historic Half-mile Racetrack at the

Kansas State Fairgrounds

Hutchinson, Kansas

Thursday – September 20, 1962

Promotional Company – Merrick Racing Promotions (M.R.P.)

Race Director – Jack Merrick of Dodge City, Kansas

Trophy Presentations – County Music performing artist Jimmy Dean

(These cars were known regionally as “rails)

Total Purse – $1,250

Racetrack condition – “excellent”

Attendance – 5,000

This photo was taken in the south turn during the B feature race on this day. Left to right are: #87 Francis Kingan, #37 Jim McAmis, and #11 Bill Halley – Hutchinson News photo

First Heat Race – 10 Laps

Total Purse – $135

Place	Driver	From	Purse	Time
1	Bill Nelson	Wichita, Kansas	$22.50	4:37.0
2	David Ross	Dodge City, Kansas	17.50
3	Jim Barton	Independence, Missouri	14.50
4	Bob Salem	Dodge City, Kansas	12.00
5	Charlie Pitts	Hutchinson, Kansas	9.50
6	Pete Peterson	Wichita, Kansas	8.50
7	George Smith	Wichita, Kansas	8.00
8	Francis Kingan	Enid, Oklahoma	7.50
9	Harold Armstrong	Wichita, Kansas	7.00
10	Pinky Mullens	Wichita, Kansas	6.50

This race paid price money 14 places back with 11^th place receiving $6.00, 12^th $5.50, 13^th $5.00, and 14^th $5.00.

Second Heat Race – 10 Laps

Total Purse – $135

Place	Driver	From	Purse	Time
1	Bill Bookout	Wichita, Kansas	$22.50	4:40.0
2	Forrest Coleman	Wichita, Kansas	17.50
3	Roy Bryant	Wichita, Kansas	14.50
4	Clarence “Nut” Cokeley	Liberal, Kansas	12.00
5	Dick Walker	Arkansas City, Kansas	9.50
6	Al Baldus	Kansas City, Missouri	8.50
7	John Riead	Hutchinson, Kansas	8.00
8	Jim McAmis	Wichita, Kansas	7.50
9	Dick Unger	Wichita, Kansas	7.00
10	Jim Macy	Wichita, Kansas	6.50

This race paid price money 14 places back with 11^th place receiving $6.00, 12^th $5.50, 13^th $5.00, and 14^th $5.00.

Third Heat Race – 10 Laps

Total Purse – $135

Place	Driver	From	Purse	Time
1	Frank Lies	Wichita, Kansas	$22.50	4:45.0
2	Leland Salmans	Larned, Kansas	17.50
3	Dale Reed	Wichita, Kansas	14.50
4	Bob Roberts	Halstead, Kansas	12.00
5	Gordon Woolley	Waco, Texas	9.50
6	Reuben Loepp	Hutchinson, Kansas	8.50
7	Melvin Harrell	Hutchinson, Kansas	8.00
8	Wylan Cattrell	Wichita, Kansas	7.50
9	Jack Petty	Wichita, Kansas	7.00
10	Bill Halley	Wichita, Kansas	6.50

This race paid price money 14 places back with 11^th place receiving $6.00, 12^th $5.50, 13^th $5.00, and 14^th $5.00.

Trophy Dash – 6 Cars – 5 Laps

Total Purse – $20 plus a trophy to the winner

Place	Driver	From	Purse	Time
1	Forrest Coleman	Wichita, Kansas	$10.00	2:18.0
2	Bill Bookout	Wichita, Kansas	6.50
3	Bill Nelson	Wichita, Kansas	3.50
4	Leland Salmans	Wichita, Kansas
	Bill Nelson	Wichita, Kansas	DNS
	Frank Lies	Wichita, Kansas	DNS

B Feature Race – 15 Laps

Total Purse – $350 plus a trophy to the winner

Place	Driver	From	Purse	Time
1	Orval Beckel	Wichita, Kansas	$65.00	7:08.0
2	Jim McAmis	Wichita, Kansas	55.00
3	Francis Kingan	Enid, Oklahoma	45.00
4	Jack Petty	Wichita, Kansas	35.00
5	Bill Rigsby	Wichita, Kansas	30.00
6	Pinky Mullens	Wichita, Kansas	25.00
7	John Riead	Hutchinson, Kansas	22.50
8	Harold Leep	Wichita, Kansas	17.50
9	Bill Halley	Wichita, Kansas	12.50
10	Charlie Hiner	Wichita, Kansas	10.50
	Dick Unger	Wichita, Kansas		DNF

Unger’s car broke an axle in the south turn sending a loose tire and wheel bouncing high into the air several times and across the fairgrounds narrowly missing several people before it smashed the left front fender of a truck parked in front of the swine barn.

This race paid price money 14 places back with 11^th place receiving $8.50, 12^th $8.50, 13^th $8.00, and 14^th $7.00.

A Feature Race – 20 Laps

Total Purse - $475 plus a trophy to the winner

Place	Driver	From	Purse	Time
1	Bill Bookout	Wichita, Kansas	$100.00	9:12.0
2	Forrest Coleman	Wichita, Kansas	80.00
3	Roy Bryant	Wichita, Kansas	60.00
4	Leland Salmans	Larned, Kansas	40.00
5	Dale Reed	Wichita, Kansas	35.00
6	Clarence “Nut” Cokeley	Liberal, Kansas	30.00
7	David Ross	Dodge City, Kansas	27.50
8	Jim Barton	Independence, Missouri	22.50
9	Charlie Pitts	Hutchinson, Kansas	20.00
10	Melvin Harrell	Hutchinson, Kansas	16.00
11	Pete Peterson	Wichita, Kansas	14.00
	Bill Nelson	Wichita, Kansas		DNF
	George Smith	Wichita, Kansas		DNF

Smith spun his car into the south fence early in the race.

Nelson led the first half of this race by as much as 100 yards over Bookout before coasting into the infield with a dead engine. From that point on, Bookout lead with Coleman running close behind him.

Pitts received minor burns when his car blew a radiator hose just as it crossed the finish line.

This race paid price money 14 places back with 12^th place receiving $12.50, 13^th $9.50, and 14^th $8.00.

Country Music performing artist Jimmy Dean is seen at right congratulating car owner Pinky Mullens (left) after presenting his driver, Bill Bookout, with a trophy for his victory in the A feature race – Hutchinson News photo